Magneto-electric signaling apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. S. WILLIAMS. MAGNETO ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 596,418. Patented Dec: 28,1897.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. S. WILLIAMS. MAGNETO ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 596,418. Patented Dec 28,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

ARTHUR S. WVILLIAMS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MAGNETO-ELEGTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,418, dated December 28, 1897.

. Application filed June 5, 1897. Serial No. 639,585. (No model.)

To all whom it may conc rn: been made, which mechanism comprises a Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. IVILLIAMS, short slotted crank secured to the end of the residing at Newton, in the county of Mid armature-shaft and constituting a lever dlesex and State of Massachusetts, have inwhereby the armature may be oscillated vented certain Improvements in Magnetoacross the lines of force of the field-magnets, 55

Electric Signaling Apparatus, of which the an actuating-block carryinga pin which plays following is a specification. in the lever-slot and is adapted to be moved This invention relates to magneto-electric in one direction manually by means of a machines, and particularlyto thatclass which press-button and in the reverse direction has been extensively employed in association automatically by means of a spring in which 60 with telephones for signaling purposes. Its energy is stored by the pressure of said butobject, primarily, is to provide acompact, effiton, a device adapted to momentarily detain cient, and convenient call-generator well the block and thereby the lever and armaadapted for use with desk-telephone sets, ture in the position to which they are moved which, dispensing with the ordinary crank or by operating the button, while the said but 65 handle and speeding-gear, can be actuated ton, relieved from pressure, is itself retractby the simple operation of pressing a button; ed, and means for auton'latically tripping the but a secondary and subsidiary object is to said detaining device at the proper moment, enable the same appliance to be used not only so that the retracting-sprin g may at such moas a call-current generator and transmitter, ment cause a reverse motion of the actuat- 70 but also as an audible signahreceiver or reing-block, lever, and armature, causing the ceptive device. In accomplishing these oblatter to oscillate with great speed back to j ects the usual field magnet and armature are its original position in the magnetic field. retained, the former generally being a per- Another phase of the invention, however,

magnet U-magnet and the latter preferably consists in placing the armature within the 75 of the Siemens or shuttle type. The armamagnetic field in such relation to the directrue or moving part of the generator, which tion of the lines of force that its resting con supports the coils, instead of being organized, dition shall be extremely unstable, and in asas usual, to revolve in the field of force by sociating it with any ordinary source of conmeans of a handle and revolving gear, is tinuously developed alternating call cur- 80 adapted to be actuated positively in one dirents, such as a standard magneto call-genrection by pressure applied to a knob, key, erator, located at another station, but placed or button, which, through peculiar interin the said circuit, whereby the operation of posed driving mechanism, moves the said arthe latter tends to produce successively re 3 5 mature sharply into a new position, where it versed oscillations of the former, which there- 85 is held for an instant after the said pressure by being caused to produce a rattling noise is removed, and then to be actuated reversely, is enabled to act for the time as a call-rebut with an access of promptness and speed, ceiver, so that a special call-bell may be disby a motor-spring in which energy is stored pensed with.

40 by the foregoing act of pressure until the nor- In the drawings accompanying and illus- 0 mal and resting position is resumed. In contrating this specification, Figure l is a persequence of these oscillatory motions a high spective View of the magneto-machine with but transient electromotive force is generated the special actuating mechanism in the forein the coils, which in the closed line-circuit ground. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical secdevelops into a brief and strong current imtion of the same, showing the unstable resting 5 pulse, traversing the said circuit and operposition of the armature. Fig. 3 is a front ating the distinct annunciator or similar callview of the actuating mechanism. Fig. -l is receiving instrument. a front vertical View of the same, mainly in The invention consists, mainly, in the pesection, taken immediately in rearof the arculiar mechanism to which reference has mature shaft, crank, or lever and through the actuating-block, press-button, and detaining device; and Fig. 5 is a diagram of an electric circuit and concomitant apparatus with which my magneto-machine may be associated and is combined.

In the drawings, M is the magneto-machine as a whole, m the field-magnets, and A the armature thereof. The said armature is shown as being mounted in suitable bearings in a cylinder 0, placed in the magnetic field, which cylinder is composed of iron pole-pieces, one for each set of magnet-poles, united mechanically by brass studs .9. The cylinder 0 is closed in front and rear by plates P P having central perforations, which form bearings for the journals of the armature-shaft D.

The ends of the armature-coils a are or maybe connected, one with the contact-spring b, by means of the point 17, mounted in an insulating-bushing p in the rear end of the armature-shaft to which it is attached, and the other to the metal work of the said shaft, and consequently to the machine itself. One leading-out wire 10 may therefore be attached to the spring I), secured to the non-conducting block 11 while the other, 10 may be fastened to any convenient part of the said metal workas, for instance, to the screw 4 of the plate P.

To the armature-shaft D is secured a short crank or lever L, having, as shown, a slot 71, in which plays a pin 2, projecting from the actuating-block E. This pin 2 may be formed integral or in one casting with the said block E, which is placed under a plunger or spindie R, surmounted and operated by the pressbutton B and surrounded or otherwise controlled in its return movement by the retracting spring 0'.

The actuating-block E may be made tubular, and a guide-rod 6 may run through it and also through the spindle It. The movement of the block E, however, is further guided by a cylindrical tube H with which it may telescope, and while it is arranged to be moved in one direction by the direct impact of the button B and the spindle R thereof it is, when relieved from the pressure of said button, adapted to be automatically impelled in the opposite direction by the retracting-spring 70, which surrounds the guide-rod (3 within the block E and its tubular guide R the said spring having energy stored up in it in virtue of the compression exercised thereon by the pressure of the button 13.

The plate N may serve as an outside guide for the tubular spindle R, which is enlarged below the said plate to limit its upward progress and which, moreover, is provided with a lateral projection Z, having a recess or slot 2 cut therein, for a purpose which presently will appear.

In close proximity to the side of the actuating-block E a detaining device or detent (Z is jointed on a screw-pin Below the said joint-pin the said device is provided with a square end or catch (Z adapted to engage a projection or stop-pin q, affixed to the lower edge of the actuating-block when the latter has been forced to its lowest position. Above the joint-pin 3 the detaining device is extended by a tailpiece (Z projecting into the recess or slot and normally resting against the outermost wall thereof, which thus is enabled to serve as a back limit-stop for the said detaining device. This device has a spring t constantly pressing against the outer side of its lower end, which, however, is prevented under resting conditions from moving inwardly by the above-mentioned contact of the tailpiece (Z with the said limit-stop; but if the button be depressed the said rear wall of the recess moves in a straight line, and as the approximate surface of the tailpiece trends sharply in an inward direction the pressure-springs continually presses the end (Z inwardly and the tailpiece d out\\"ardly until the recess-wall passes the point (1", when it parts company altogether with the detent (Z. hen the button 13 is pressed down nearly as low as it will go, the projecting pin q passes beyond the catch (Z of the detaining device, and the actuatingblock E is thus, when the pressure of the button-plunger is relaxed, momentarily held in its lowest position by ongagement with said catch.

In Fig. 5 the magneto-machine M at one station V is shown as being connected in an electric circuit with direct and return conductors V leading to another station J, where it includes a call-receiving device, shown as an annunciator X, adapted to respond to the brief and sharp impulse of cur rent which the generator I\[ produces. At the station J is likewise located a suitable source G of continuously-developed alternating electric currents, represented by a wellunderstood conventional symbol indicating an ordinary or standard magneto call-generator. K K are call-keys connected with the two wires of the main circuit and pressing normally against back contacts-tops SJ and 10, to which extension-conductors 1-1- 15, leading to the annunciator X, are attached. The said keys are also provided with front contacts 7 8, which are in electric connection by wires 19 and 13 with the two poles, respectively, of the alternating-generator G. If the keys K K are pressed, the alternating call-currents of the generator Gare directed over the main conductors \V, and reaching station V pass there through the coil of the armature A of the machine M.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that the overlapping win 1' of the shuttle-shaped iron core of the armature A, when the machine is at rest, are in a position at a right angle to the polar faces of the field-magnet. Such position is a very unstable one. Hence the rapidly-alternatingcall-currents from the distant generator G, in circulating through the arn1ature-coiis of the machine M, set up rapidly-changing polarities in the said core and cause the same to vibrate or oscillate vigorously, and thereby to produce a rattling noise adapted to serve as an audible callsignal.

In the operation of the magnetomachine M as a signal-transmitter it is only necessary for the telephone-subscriber to depress the call-button B as far as it will go and then to release it. This action pushes down the plunger R and the block E, and the pin 2 of the latter, playing in the slot 11 of the short lever L, forces the said lever into a new position, (indicated by the dotted lines,) and of course moves the armature A within the field of the magnets m for a portion of a revolution. Meanwhile the projecting pin 1, carried by the block E, has passed below the end (1 of the detaining; device d, which, freed from the restraint of rear wall of the recess .2 has, in obedience to spring o, moved outwardly at its upper end and inwardly at its lower end until the said lower end d is brought into a position directly above and in the line of retreat of the pin q. The retracting-springs r and 7c of the plungerR and the actuating-block E, having both been compressed, are both in tension, energy having been made potential in them by the act of depressing the button B. As soon, however, as the pressure upon the button is relaxed the spring 0" comes into action and retracts the said button. The button and its spindle are retracted for a short distance without exercising any effect on the block E and the mechanism controlled thereby, and the said block therefore remains an instant in or nearly in its lowest position, where obviously it must stay until the end d of the detent d is withdrawn from the rear of the pin q; but before the plunger R has recoiled very far the rear surface of the slot or recess .2 in the plate Z, extending from it, acting as a hook, engages the tailpiece d of the detaining device at a point immediately above the apex cl of the bend thereof, and, throwing the said tailpiece forward, necessarily moves the end (Z backward and out of the path of the pin q. The actuatingbloek E is thus freed and the retracting spring 7s permitted to expand, which it does with eonsiderable vigor, the block E and lever L returning to their normal position suddenly and with great velocity. The armature A, carrying the generatoncoils a, is thus moved or oscillated at a high speed across the lines of force of the magnet m and an electric-current impulse undera high electromotive force is thus generated within the said coils, which, passing through the circuit with which they may be connected, is welladapted for operation of the signal-receiving device X at the central or other station.

The motion which ordinarily can be imparted to an armature capable of revolving directly by the depression of a key or button is too slow to eventuate in a current snflicientlystrong to reliablysend the signal; but by making the return motion of the armature independent of the manual action of the operator, so organizing the mechanism that the press-button spindle and armature-actuatin g block have in their return strokes no direct association, the latter being dependent upon the former only for the withdrawal of the detaining device, and by providing the said actuating-block with an independently-operat in g retracting-spring I am enabled to impart a motive impulse to the machine-armature, which, though of brief duration, is of sufficiently great speed for the generation of the required current and for the efficient and trustworthy operation of the distant signal.

I claim 1. In a telephone signaling apparatus, and in .combination with the field-magnet and armature thereof; a key or press-button and a motor-spring adapted to successively move the said armature in opposite directions, respectively; and a detaining device controlling and acting to delay the operation of said spring, and itself controlled by the said pressbutton; substantially as set forth.

2. The combination substantially as herein specified, in a telephone signaling magnetomachine, of the movable armature and the coils thereof; with a key or button, and plunger, constituting means for operating the said armature in one direction; a motor-spring adapted to be energized by the pressure of said key, and placed in operative relation to the said armature to produce a return movement thereof; a detaining device for the said spring arranged to temporarily maintain the compression thereof, when the pressure 011 said key is relaxed, and delay the return motion of the armature; and means for automatically tripping the said detaining device, and for suddenly releasing the said motorspring; whereby the armature is enabled to oscillate with great velocity in returning to its normal position, for the purposes set forth.

3. Inamagneto-machine for telephone signaling, the combination of the armature thereof with actuating mechanism comprising a slotted lever or crank secured to the armature-shaft; an actuating-block carrying a pin which plays in the slot of said lever; a key or press-button-detachably associated with said block, and organized when pressed to move the same in the direction of such pressure; a motor-spring compressible by the operation of said key, and adapted to move the said actuating-block reversely when the said key-pressure is relaxed; a detent engaging a projection of said actuating-block to delay the return movement thereof; a retraoting-spring for the key or press-button, acting to independently retract the same when pressure thereon is no longer exercised; and a tripping device for the said detent controlled by the said key in its independent return movement, all substantially as herein specified.

4. In a telephone signaling system, the combination of a main circuit; a source of continuously-developed alternating call-currents connected therewith at a station thereof; and

a magneto-electric machine having its arma- In testimony whereof I have signed my 10 ture mounted in the magnetic field in such name to this specification, in the presence of relation to the direction of the lines of force two subscribing Witnesses,this 1st day ofJune, of such field, that its resting condition shall 1897.

5 be unstable, connected with the said circuit at another station thereof; whereby the said magnetonnachine may be made responsive as \Vitnesses: a receiving instrument, to the currents of the THOMAS I). LOCK W001), first-named source,substantially as described. JOSEPH A. GATELY.

ARTHUR S. XVILLIAMS. 

